Political Party News
Andrew Brons’s Election Agent Challenges Clive Jefferson
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Written by Green Arrow
Andrew Brons’s election agent Chris Roberts has issued a written challenge to British National Party elections officer Clive Jefferson on the validity of the General Members’ Meeting “proxy voting” system spring on the party last week.
“Dear Clive,” the letter reads. “I understand that for the first time in the history of the party, proxy votes are to be permitted for a General Members meeting and specifically the meeting highlighted above.
“As you are aware the motions proposed for this meeting have a major bearing on a person seeking nomination to become leader of the British National Party. Andrew Brons has declared his intention to seek such nomination and I have agreed to be his election agent.
“In consequence of the foregoing I would draw your attention to the following:
1) It is my contention that the proxy votes are invalid due to their dispatch and receipt being well outside the permitted time limit, namely 14 days before the convening of such General Members meeting.
2) The letter accompanying the proxy voting form from Nick Griffin dated 17 June 2011 contained therein, the misleading statement “or move to a largely elected National Executive”. The motion before the GMM will be a minority elected National Executive. It could be argued that members voting by proxy have potentially voted for a motion not in accordance with their perceived intention of a majority elected National Executive. Therefore the proxy votes are technically invalidated.
3) The proxy voting form allowed only people chosen by the leadership to act as a proxy. This is a clear breach of a member’s right to choose any 2-year British National Party member to be their proxy so long as the person so chosen was attending the GMM.
4) The motions have not been drafted correctly and the inaccuracies therein invalidate the proxy votes.
5) Proxy votes received and validated by officers of the British National Party for inclusion at the General Members Meeting of Sunday 26 June 2011 should be available for inspection and verification by persons seeking nomination to the leadership of the British National Party (and / or their election agents), inclusive of the envelopes they were received in.
“In light of the enormous ramifications for a person ultimately successful in any leadership challenge this year (i.e. the possibility of a four or five year term), it is of the utmost importance on behalf of the membership of the British National Party that this General Members meeting is seen to be fair, transparent and in accordance with the legal responsibilities of the party management.
Therefore, whilst 1), 2), 3) and 4) above, may require adjudication by a court of competent jurisdiction, dependent upon your response hereto, it is surely imperative that 5) above is complied with as a matter of urgency in order that the veracity of the proxy votes are not compromised.
I await your advices as soon as possible and would appreciate a response no later than the 26th June 2011.
“Yours sincerely
“Chris Roberts
“Leadership Election Agent to Andrew Brons MEP.”
